Religious freedom

Monday

Article six, Section 3 of our Constitution requires that "no religious test shall ever be required as qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."

I continually read about candidates for office who are not qualified to lead because someone has determined that this individual does not meet a litmus test of religious leaders.

They must have forgotten a majority of the founding fathers were deists. The Founding Fathers realized religious beliefs divided people as much as political party affiliation, and they were determined to create unity rather than division.

Not once are the words, "God," "Jesus Christ," "Christianity," "Bible" or "Creator" mentioned in our founding document, not once.

We are a nation that recognizes the importance of allowing citizens the opportunity to worship however they wish. Religious intolerance was the driving force that caused many to seek the United States as a sanctuary from governments or individuals who would abuse them.

Our nation was not created by the founders as a Christian nation. That misstatement has been repeated so many times that it has become urban legend, and is meant to give credibility to those who seek power for the sake of power, and not because of religious beliefs.

The Declaration of Independence does make reference to our creator. The Declaration of Independence is a historical document, while the Constitution is our governing document.

Founder John Jay was an orthodox Christian who believed the United States should be a Christian nation. However, he also argued Catholics should be prohibited from holding office. John Jay was not among the majority and, as a result, his desires were not accepted.

When President, Dwight Eisenhower, a deist when he won election, allowed the inclusion of "under God" in the "Pledge of Allegiance" and "In God we Trust" on our money, he did his nation no favor, even if his intentions were noble.

He provided those who seek power through religious belief a club by which they could elevate personal belief to dominion over those who do not share the same belief. Separation of church and state is the principal that provides safe haven for people of all religious beliefs, provides assurance all religions are accepted, and discrimination because of ones' belief, or non belief, will not be tolerated by our government.

Do those who believe we need God in government seek to impose their beliefs on those who believe differently? Do they seek a state religion, like Iran, Saudi Arabia, or Iraq, where people are separated by religious differences?

Imagine living where those who believe differently are considered less human, wrong thinking, unworthy of a place in society and irrelevant. Is that what you would have the United States become? If it truly is, then vote for those that meet your criteria of what a religious leader should be, but remember all politicians are seeking votes, not religious conversion.

JOHN WILLSON

Burlington

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